If you want to distinguish your goods, services (or both) from those of another business, you may need a trade mark. Find out what trade marks are and what’s involved in the application and management process.

If you are a self filer, attorney or a Qualified Person (QP) –this is the place to find our examination manuals, FAQs, case studies, search tools and more to help you further understand and research intellectual property.

For many start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, your creativity and innovation is what establishes your place in the market. How you protect those ideas is therefore really important. We want to hear your IP story and share it with others like you to spread the word about the value IP protection gives to business. That’s why we’re running ‘The best idea in Australia’ competition!

What’s your IP story?

Has your patent given you a competitive advantage in commercialising your idea or seeking investment funding? Has your trade mark prevented others from using the same brand name as you? Or have you identified in your IP strategy that a registered IP right is not for you? Perhaps your idea is protected by copyright or trade secrets.

Whatever your IP story, sharing it with us could see you win up to $5000 to go towards an innovation incubator hub space near you where you’ll reap the rewards of working in a collaborative space with infinite networking opportunities. And for those who live in remote areas or are unable to access an incubator hub, the prize value will go towards business advisory services so you can tackle some of the opportunities or challenges you’ve been thinking about lately.

So come on! Do you have the best idea in Australia?

Before you enter

Before you enter make sure you’ve considered your future IP needs. If you think you might want to apply for an IP right for your idea in the future then ensure you don’t give too much away in your entry. If you show, sell or discuss an idea, you may not be eligible for registering an IP right because your idea is already in the public domain. You can still share your IP story with us though, just be careful of the details you show or discuss. This mostly applies to ideas that could involve a patent or design IP right. If you are unsure you can find more information about patents and what designs can be protected.

How to enter

In a creative digital submission of your choice (for example a video, animation, slide show or audio to name a few), tell us in 60 seconds or less how you’re protecting the IP of your idea/s and how this has helped your business.

Send a short email to communication@ipaustralia.gov.au with a link to your social media page and your contact details to confirm your entry. Use the subject line ‘The best idea in Australia competition entry’.

Submissions will also be accepted by email if you’re not on Facebook or Twitter. Email communication@ipaustralia.gov.au with your entry and contact details using the subject line ‘The best idea in Australia competition entry’.

Entries close 11.00 pm (AEST) on Tuesday 12 April 2016. Late submissions will not be accepted.

The winner will be announced on World IP Day, Tuesday 26 April 2016.

Eligibility

The best idea in Australia competition is open to Australian citizens/residents over the age of 18. IP Australia employees whether they are employed on a full-time, part-time, ongoing or non-ongoing basis cannot participate in this competition.

Digital creativity: culture reimagined

Consumable culture – including film, TV, music, books, art and video games – has continued to transform as digital technologies become more accessible. We can read, watch and listen to creative works wherever, whenever and however we want.

Let’s reimagine this culture and explore how we can encourage creators, innovators, start-ups and small businesses to harness their ideas and IP in today's, and the future’s, marketplace.